Joystiqhttp://www.joystiq.com
Joystiqhttp://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gifJoystiqhttp://www.joystiq.com
en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/off-the-grid-the-witcher-adventure-game-and-star-wars-imperial/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/off-the-grid-the-witcher-adventure-game-and-star-wars-imperial/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/off-the-grid-the-witcher-adventure-game-and-star-wars-imperial/#comments
Like most sci-fi shows on Fox, Off the Grid is getting canceled (we're all saying goodbye, actually).

In this series finale of the board and card game series I had hoped to evolve over time, we're keeping our spirits high with a look at two recent, fantastic releases from publisher Fantasy Flight Games: The Witcher Adventure Game and Star Wars: Imperial Assault.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redfantasy-flight-gamesoff-the-gridoff-the-grid-seriesrecommendedstar-warsstar-wars-imperial-assaulttabletopthe-witcher-adventure-gameTue, 03 Feb 2015 14:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/watch-14-minutes-of-the-witcher-3s-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/watch-14-minutes-of-the-witcher-3s-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/watch-14-minutes-of-the-witcher-3s-gameplay/#comments
Have you finished reading about the first three hours of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? If you don't want the wild ride to end, then check out this 14-minute gameplay trailer to see some horseback riding, conversations and exploration in the game. The Witcher 3 will launch on May 19 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

While the PC game can import save files from The Witcher 2, the console versions will not. Rather, the PS4 and Xbox one versions will simulate world states in the game based on an in-game conversation. The Witcher 3 was previously expected to launch next month, but CD Projekt RED delayed the game back in December.

The Witcher series has set a high standard for itself, in terms of graphics and massiveness. In December, CD Projekt RED delayedThe Witcher 3 from a February launch to May 19, 2015, citing many in-game details that required further completion and tweaking.

"When we release the most important game in our studio's history, we must be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to limit any bugs to a level that will allow you to enjoy the game thoroughly," CD Projekt RED said. Days after the delay announcement, President and Joint CEO Adam Kicinski said that fans took the news well. "[The] market is afraid of badly polished games on next-gen platforms," he said.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Collector's Edition steelbooks will be beautiful in addition to sturdy, judging by the artwork StudioKxx has designed for their covers. Which of three designs from the gallery below will you choose when Wild Hunt launches on May 19?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redcollectors-editionmicrosoftpcplaystationps4steelbookstudiokxxthe-witcher-3xbox-oneSun, 04 Jan 2015 20:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/mystery-girl-ciri-joins-the-witcher-3-as-new-playable-lead/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/mystery-girl-ciri-joins-the-witcher-3-as-new-playable-lead/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/mystery-girl-ciri-joins-the-witcher-3-as-new-playable-lead/#comments
Where previous games have exclusively dropped players into the boots of Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt includes a new playable character: a mysterious white-haired young woman named Ciri.

"A descendant in a long-lost Elven-blood lineage, Ciri plays an important role in the Witcher lore - a powerful, living weapon capable of both healing and destroying the world she inhabits," reads developer CD Projekt RED's official description. "As Ciri is pursued by the Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of ghastly riders capable of unspeakable destruction, as well as the mighty Empire of Nilfgaard, it's down to Geralt to explore The Witcher 3's vast, open world to find her before anyone else does." The studio remains largely coy on what Ciri brings to combat, though it does note that she's an agile swordfighter with short-range teleportation abilities and a dark, possibly cataclysmic secret.

Though Ciri brings a novel face to the series, CD Projekt RED stresses that Geralt is still the star of The Witcher 3. "Adding Ciri as a playable character unlocks quite a few narrative possibilities for the team, though while Ciri is a major character, she is not a playable character in the same way as Geralt - the game is still about him, his story and how you, as the player, choose to face the choices and encounters in front of you," the developer stated.

How the presence of a female protagonist might affect the series' traditionally libertine approach to nudity is unknown, but the developer claims more information on Ciri's role in The Witcher 3 is coming shortly. Barring further delays, The Witcher 3 is slated to reach the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on May 19.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projektcd-projekt-redcirimicrosoftpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneMon, 15 Dec 2014 15:01:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-witcher-3-dev-the-market-is-afraid-of-badly-polished-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-witcher-3-dev-the-market-is-afraid-of-badly-polished-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/the-witcher-3-dev-the-market-is-afraid-of-badly-polished-games/#comments
When CD Projekt RED delayed The Witcher 3: Wild Huntto May 19, 2015 earlier this week, the developer said it saw "many details that need to be corrected" in the game before it was ready to launch. The group's President and Joint CEO Adam Kicinski added to that statement, telling Polish financial journalists (as translated by Eurogamer) that the studio's fans "took our decision very well. [The] market is afraid of badly polished games on next-gen platforms."

While Kicinski did not name any games or developers in particular, games such as Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Unity, Sony's DriveClub and Microsoft's Halo: The Master Chief Collection encountered varying, severe issues at their respective launches on PS4 and Xbox One this year. The CD Projekt head also said the developer wants "to disarm the opinion that [The Witcher 3] doesn't exist. It will be closed by the end of the year in line with the schedule." Kicinski said there are "a lot of small errors" in the game, which are "the only reason behind the delay," and that the company doesn't want to "release the game with bugs that undermine the gameplay." CD Projekt admitted it "set the release date too hastily" when it aimed for February 2015, which itself was a delay from The Witcher 3's previous 2014 launch window.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-kicinskiCD-Projektcd-projekt-redceodelaydelayeddelaysmicrosoftpcplaystationpresidentps4the-witcher-3the-witcher-3-wild-huntWarner-Bros-Interactive-Entertainmentwbiexbox-oneWed, 10 Dec 2014 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-may-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-may-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-may-2015/#commentsThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been delayed to May 19, 2015, CD Projekt RED announced. The game was previously expected to launch in February 2015, but the studio said it sees "many details that need to be corrected" as the game nears the end of its development. "When we release the most important game in our studio's history, we must be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to limit any bugs to a level that will allow you to enjoy the game thoroughly," the developer added.

CD Projekt said it "set the release date too hastily," and that it owes its fans an apology for the delay. "It's a hard lesson, one to take to heart for the future. We know what we want to do to make Wild Hunt one of the best RPGs you will ever play. And we continue to work hard to achieve just that," the developer said. The Witcher 3 is in development for PC, Xbox One and PS4.

Geralt of Rivia is awesome. His friends are awesome. Whether you've partaken of CD Projekt Red's RPG pleasure in The Witcher video games or tumbled down the rabbit hole of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels, the general awesomeness of Geralt and his pals is impossible to deny. The guy's a mutated, long-lived, magic-practicing swordsman alchemist who seems like a lothario but has a heart of gold. His best friends are a bad ass sorceress and a poet who's also a spy.

If you and your friends are planning to sit around a table playing board games, you could hardly ask for better characters to inhabit in the process. Thankfully, there's Fantasy Flight's The Witcher Adventure Game to scratch that itch.

Fantasy Flight Games, CD Projekt and Joystiq are giving away a copy of the new board game in our latest raffle! How do you get your hands on it? Just use the Rafflecopter widget below between December 5 and December 12. Winners will be selected at random and contacted via email. Full rules and details after the break.

As is the case with most fantasy adventures, digital (and real-world) board game The Witcher Adventure Game gets complicated. Thankfully, series developer CD Projeket RED has put together the in-depth introduction above, which familiarizes would-be heroes with its card types, status ailments, battle system and general progression.

While the tutorial is dense in useful information and examples, the simplified take is that two to four players race to finish main quests before their fellow players. Once a player's third main quest is completed, the game ends after one more turn from all other players. Glory is granted to whoever holds the most Victory Points at the end, a form of score earned by completing sidequests, investigating leads, besting monsters or performing other actions.

The Witcher Adventure Game will let dice fly on PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices in 2014 and is currently available for pre-order at Good Old games for $8.99. A physical version from Fantasy Flight Games is also expected to ship later this month.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidboard-gamecd-projekt-redfantasy-flight-gamesgoggood-old-gamesiosipadiphonemacmobilepcthe-witcher-adventure-gamewindows-phoneSun, 16 Nov 2014 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/witcher-3-the-wild-hunt-includes-16-free-dlc-packs/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/witcher-3-the-wild-hunt-includes-16-free-dlc-packs/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/witcher-3-the-wild-hunt-includes-16-free-dlc-packs/#commentsThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will have 16 post-launch DLC packs, all of them free. Witcher 3 launches on February 24, and the first DLC drop is on February 25, including two content packs, the Temerian Armor Set (horse armor included) and a Beard and Hairstyle Set for the main character, Geralt. Each week after release, two more DLC packs will launch for the game until all 16 are distributed. Yes, for free.

Developer CD Projekt Red stresses that there's no need to pre-order or get a special edition to receive the DLC. In an open letter, CEO Marcin Iwiński says the following:

"As gamers, we nowadays have to hold on tight to our wallets, as surprisingly right after release, lots of tiny pieces of tempting content materialize with a steep price tag attached. Haven't we just paid a lot of cash for a brand new game? As CD PROJEKT RED, we strongly believe this is not the way it should work and, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we have decided to do it differently. Cutting to the chase, everyone who buys Wild Hunt will receive 16 specially prepared DLCs absolutely for free, regardless of platform."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redDLCmicrosoftpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneThu, 06 Nov 2014 11:25:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/05/witcher-battle-arena-enters-closed-beta-on-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/05/witcher-battle-arena-enters-closed-beta-on-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/05/witcher-battle-arena-enters-closed-beta-on-android/#commentsThe Witcher Battle Arena, a free-to-play mobile MOBA, has launched its closed beta for Android devices. Interested participants can sign up at the game's site for access. No word yet on timing for iOS testing.

"Designed with fairness in mind, the game features no pay-to-win elements and allows players to unlock every piece of in-game content via gameplay," noted the company's announcement today. "Closed Beta focuses on balancing gameplay, fixing potential netcode issues and further refining in-game features."

Though developer Fuero Games offers no word on when the beta test will commence, it does explain what would-be testers are signing up for. "Upon being granted access to the event, selected participants will be given the possibility to playtest 8 heroes on two maps playable in Conquest Mode -The Arena and Korath Desert," reads the developer's official announcement. "Players will also have the opportunity to develop their player profiles in an RPG fashion, as well as help to test several other functionalities present in the full game coming later this year."

To sign up for the imminent beta test, CD Projekt RED asks that fans enter their pertinent details on the game's beta website. Be aware though, this beta test is only seeking Android users. Sorry Apple fans, but if it's any consolation you can find a brand new trailer for Witcher Battle Arena beyond the break.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbetabeta-testcd-projekt-rediosipadmobilethe-witcher-3witcher-battle-arenaThu, 21 Aug 2014 20:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/35-minutes-of-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/35-minutes-of-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/35-minutes-of-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-gameplay/#comments
If you didn't have the opportunity to travel all the way to Gamescom last week and check out the latest footage of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in action, are you ever in luck right now! Here's 35 minutes taken directly from the presentation at last week's show.

Now, there are some elements from the Gamescom presentation missing in the video and we should point these out for you. First, you won't have to make an appointment to see it. Next, you won't be packed into a really warm room with comfy chairs where you may or may not fall asleep on your boss' shoulder (Sorry, Ludwig). Three ... no, seriously, accidentally snuggling your boss gets really weird quick.

Check out the video after the break. The video of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, not of me snuggling Ludwig. That'll require a Joystiq Premium membership.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redgamescomgamescom-2014microsoftpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneTue, 19 Aug 2014 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/15/the-witcher-3s-gwent-mini-game-is-quite-a-card/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/15/the-witcher-3s-gwent-mini-game-is-quite-a-card/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/15/the-witcher-3s-gwent-mini-game-is-quite-a-card/#commentsThe Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt will feature a card game within the open-world RPG, CD Project Red revealed. "Gwent" is a "fast-paced card game" invented by dwarves that includes four factions. Players duel with other characters using over 150 playing cards with multiple combat styles, heroes and spells. Gwent represents a "clash of two armies locked in mortal struggle on a battlefield," in which players' decks act as their forces.

The developer also revealed the inclusion of bonus physical goodies for the Xbox One Collector's Edition of The Witcher 3. In addition to the 200-page artbook, medallion, steelbook and cases, limited edition Xbox One owners will receive a a cloth map of the game's world and two physical Gwent card decks. Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart listings peg the Collector's Edition at roughly $150. The Witcher 3 will launch on February 24, 2015 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>card-gameccgCD-Projektcd-projekt-redcollectors-editiongwentLimited-Editionmicrosoftpcplaystationps4rpgtcgthe-witcher-3the-witcher-3-wild-hunttrading-card-gameWarner-Bros-Interactive-EntertainmentWBIExbox-oneFri, 15 Aug 2014 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/10/live-improv-saves-the-day-when-witcher-3-sdcc-panel-goes-awry/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/10/live-improv-saves-the-day-when-witcher-3-sdcc-panel-goes-awry/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/10/live-improv-saves-the-day-when-witcher-3-sdcc-panel-goes-awry/#comments
Pop quiz, hotshot. You're at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. A demo showing live gameplay has started, but none of the characters' voices are working. You've got a packed room full of fans who want to see the game in presentable condition, and not enough time to start over and try again. What do you do? What do you do? Well, if you're Doug Cockle, voice actor behind Witcher series hero Geralt of Rivia, you start performing your lines live.

Despite the potentially embarrassing circumstances, Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt RED has taken its technologically-challenged SDCC panel and made it available for viewing in a video showing Cockle's live improv outtakes. If you've ever wanted to hear Geralt call a big, burly bald man "cute," well ... now's your chance.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redcomic-condoug-cocklegeralthumorimprovmicrosoftpcplaystationps4san-diego-comic-consan-diego-comic-con-2014sdccthe-witcherthe-witcher-3the-witcher-3-wild-huntxbox-oneSun, 10 Aug 2014 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/a-new-wave-of-wild-hunters-invited-to-the-witcher-adventure-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/a-new-wave-of-wild-hunters-invited-to-the-witcher-adventure-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/a-new-wave-of-wild-hunters-invited-to-the-witcher-adventure-gam/#comments
GOG.com is rolling out a new wave of invites to its closed beta for The Witcher: Adventure Game, a flurry of Twitter traffic indicates. The Witcher: Adventure Gamebegan life as a board game inspired by developer CD Projekt Red's popular RPG series - itself an adaptation of a Polish novel series.

"The purpose of the beta is to test both the game as well as GOG Galaxy infrastructure powering the online portion of it," an email to beta testers reveals. The beta is available on PC and Mac. GOG Galaxy, announced prior to E3 2014, is a Steam-like client which allows players to access their game libraries, earn achievements and can be used to connect with others for multiplayer gaming action. During its announcement, GOG.com bosses promised the online functionality of the client is completely optional, reenforcing its commitment to DRM-free game distribution.

Beta play is limited to online play only, though the final product is expected to feature a "hot seat" mode and "vs AI" modes. Check out a closer look to the board game version of The Witcher: Adventure Game in the gallery below.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projekt-RedGOG-Galaxypcthe-witcher-adventure-gameThu, 07 Aug 2014 18:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/01/witcher-mobile-moba-cast-on-tablets-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/01/witcher-mobile-moba-cast-on-tablets-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/07/01/witcher-mobile-moba-cast-on-tablets-later-this-year/#commentsThe Witcher Battle Arena is the best parts of what happens when a company like CD Projekt Red, developer of ambitious RPGs like The Witcher series, gets outside its comfort zone and thinks about making something as ubiquitous as another MOBA. A saturated genre that is so easily dismissed with an eye-roll and a yawn, but what the hardcore RPG studio is doing with the genre was actually quite intuitive when I recently got some hands-on time with it.

Designed by CD Projekt Red and developed by Fuero Games, the tablet MOBA is a fast-paced 3v3 arena combat game that takes less than 10 minutes per match. As one developer acknowledged: a match had to fit within acceptable toilet time.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcd-projekt-redfuero-gamesiosipadmobamobilethe-witcher-battle-arenawitcher-battle-arenawitcher-mobaTue, 01 Jul 2014 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/the-massive-bloody-world-of-the-witcher-3-the-wild-hunt/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/the-massive-bloody-world-of-the-witcher-3-the-wild-hunt/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/the-massive-bloody-world-of-the-witcher-3-the-wild-hunt/#comments
Though the first two Witcher games offered a very convincing dark fantasy, roleplaying experience, too often they forced players to follow a linear, almost claustrophobic path. Not so in The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, where climbing to the top of a mountain offers an immense vista populated entirely by locations players can actually visit.

But it's not just the structure of the virtual realm that impresses, as The Witcher 3 is defined by its smaller components: the slick of a puddle lying in the middle of a city street, a murky, methane haze rising from swamplands and mummified bats decorating the home of a magically-inclined crone. "At CD Projekt RED we pride ourselves on our attention to detail," the developers told me during a screening of the game's early moments. "It's all these details and more that make The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt a true open-world experience."

From hit fantasy novel, to PC game, to board game and now back to the PC, CD Projekt RED has revealed plans to translate dark fantasy epic The Witcher from cardboard maps and dice to the electronic climes of your home computer.

Available for cross-play on either Steam or the newly-revealed GOG Galaxy, the Witcher Adventure Game is slated to make its official debut on both PC and Mac later this year. However, CD Projekt RED is currently accepting applications for beta testing via the newly-revealed GOG Galaxy distribution system. If you pay a visit to gog.com/galaxy, you can add your name to the list of prospective testers. Those who also pre-order The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt will be granted two beta keys, instead of one.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamecd-projekt-redmacpcthe-witcherthe-witcher-3witcher-adventure-gameThu, 05 Jun 2014 14:33:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/05/gog-announces-galaxy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/05/gog-announces-galaxy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/05/gog-announces-galaxy/#comments
PC game distribution service GOG.com announced a DRM-free, Steam-like client called Galaxy during the CD Projekt Red and GOG.com Summer Conference livestream today. Galaxy allows players to access their game libraries, earn achievements and can be used to connect with others for multiplayer gaming action.

The client will offer cross-platform support for those playing online with others that are using other clients, such as Steam. It's also totally optional: Those looking to just play their games offline won't need to use the client. While Galaxy will not require any online activation and will handle game downloads and updates, players won't need to use the client if they choose to do those things manually.

During a video conference held this morning, publisher CD Projekt RED revealed that The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt will make its official debut on February 24, 2015. The dark fantasy epic is slated to appear on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, in both retail and digital incarnations. Expect more details to emerge as the conference rolls on.

Slated to kick off on June 5 at 2PM Eastern Standard Time, the show promises to reveal new details on The Witcher 3, more information on its inevitable pre-order scheme, and word on what's inside the game's limited Collector's Edition. Most crucially, the event will include "previously unseen footage" of The Witcher 3, a game which has garnered a surprising amount of pre-release hype given what scant media we've seen to date.

Best of all, it will cost you nothing to attend this online conference. Simply wait until the appointed time, then pay a visit to the official website to view the presentation.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redmicrosoftpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneThu, 29 May 2014 13:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/22/witcher-dev-exploring-the-mystical-realm-of-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/22/witcher-dev-exploring-the-mystical-realm-of-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/22/witcher-dev-exploring-the-mystical-realm-of-mobile/#comments
CD Projekt, developers of The Witcher series and upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, are working on an unannounced mobile game. A company management report obtained and translated by Eurogamer states that the game is being developed in conjunction with an external partner, and is planned to launch this year.

It's not clear whether this mobile-focused project will be tied to the upcoming The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Witcher series as a whole, Cyberpunk 2077, or if it will be something else entirely. Eurogamer was told that an official announcement was coming "very soon," and that said announcement would also coincide with a beta launch.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redcyberpunk-2077mobilethe-witcherSat, 22 Mar 2014 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-february-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-february-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-witcher-3-delayed-to-february-2015/#comments
Poland-based developer CD Projekt Red announced that the release of its multiplatform action-RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, has been delayed to next year as the studio focuses on testing and polish.

"We could have released the game towards the end of this year as we had initially planned," the team explains. "Yet we concluded that a few additional months will let us achieve the quality that will satisfy us, the quality gamers expect from us. Consequently, we have set the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for February 2015."

The full text of CD Projekt Red's announcement is available after the break below.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-reddelaymicrosoftpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneTue, 11 Mar 2014 13:32:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/the-witchers-run-free-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/the-witchers-run-free-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/the-witchers-run-free-on-steam-this-weekend/#comments
Polish developer CD Projekt Red's excellent RPG series, The Witcher is free to play on Steam this weekend until 1pm PT on Sunday, February 16. If you'd like to continue playing each past this weekend, both games have been drastically discounted until February 18: The Witcher: Enhanced Editionis currently $2 and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition is $4.

In our review of The Witcher 2 we said it was "polished for the most part and Polish throughout, though its unique origin is reflected more in the grounded fantasy than in the charming, brassy localization. There's no apocalypse in sight, only a well-written web of murdered monarchs, racial tension and freedom fighting - with just a dash of magic."

The third entry in the series, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, aims to wrap up the story of silver-haired protagonist Geralt, but will not necessarily be the last game in the franchise. The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is an open-world take on the role-playing series and is currently being planned for release on Xbox One, PS4 and PC later this year.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projektcd-projekt-redmacpcsteamthe-witcherthe-witcher-2the-witcher-2-enhanced-editionFri, 14 Feb 2014 21:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/cyberpunk-2077-is-a-true-rpg-not-multiplayer-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/cyberpunk-2077-is-a-true-rpg-not-multiplayer-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/26/cyberpunk-2077-is-a-true-rpg-not-multiplayer-shooter/#comments
Those of you worried that upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077 will stray from its hardcore RPG roots, worry no more - CD Projekt's Marcin Iwinski recently told IGN that the game is a "true RPG," and that fans shouldn't be worried about it turning into a shooter (which has happenedbefore).

"People have been asking me if Cyberpunk 2077 will have multiplayer or if it will be a straight-up shooter, and I tell them to relax, because it will be a true RPG game," Iwinski said. "It is an all-out RPG game, but we're looking at having a lot of new gameplay elements that I cannot talk about yet. One thing I can say for sure is that it is definitely not a multiplayer shooter."

That's not an outright denial of multiplayer mind you, and it wasn't long ago that CD Projekt Managing Director Adam Badowski confirmed that the game will have some sort of "multiplayer features." We might just have to wait until "way off in 2015" to find out more.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is planning to stalk its most dangerous prey yet, with Namco Bandai serving as its Bear Grylls publisher in the poison-filled land of Australia. Oh, and New Zealand too.

Namco Bandai will also be handlingWild Hunt's excursion through Europe, but Warner Bros. will lead the expedition across North America. Wild Hunt is planned to conduct a simultaneous scavenge for wildlife across the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 sometime in 2014. Though Wild Huntwill conclude the saga of Geralt of Rivia, CD Projekt Red will leave an opening for a possible return to the Witcher's world in the future.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaCD-Projektcd-projekt-redmicrosoftnamco-bandainew-zealandpcplaystationps4the-witcher-3witcherxbox-oneSat, 18 Jan 2014 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/11/the-witcher-travels-to-cardboard-land-with-fantasy-flight-board/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/11/the-witcher-travels-to-cardboard-land-with-fantasy-flight-board/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/11/the-witcher-travels-to-cardboard-land-with-fantasy-flight-board/#comments
A board game based on The Witcher property is coming courtesy of a partnership between CD Projekt RED - developers of the Witcher games - and Fantasy Flight Games. Gameplay details are light, but according to the game's official site, players will assume the role of one of four heroes: Geralt of Rivia, Dandelion, Triss Merigold and Yarpen Zigrin.

Each hero has a unique set of skills and their own deck of what are called "Development Cards," though what these cards do is unknown. The site also emphasizes storytelling and adventuring, as players will have to tackle various quests which range from simple monster hunts to exposing a traitor in the royal court.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureboard-gamecd-projekt-redfantasy-flight-gamestabletopthe-witcherthe-witcher-adventure-gameSat, 11 Jan 2014 18:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/07/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-seeks-vgx-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/07/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-seeks-vgx-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/07/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-seeks-vgx-trailer/#commentsThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will track its prey simultaneously on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 sometime in 2014, but tonight the game got a fancy new trailer at the VGX.

The mature RPG series and been announced to have 50 hours of killing monsters, concluding in one of 36 different states.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redmicrosoftpcplaystationps4spike-vgx-2013the-witcher-3vgx-2013xbox-oneSat, 07 Dec 2013 21:14:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/the-witcher-series-reaches-6-million-unit-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/the-witcher-series-reaches-6-million-unit-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/the-witcher-series-reaches-6-million-unit-sales/#comments
As part of The Witcher's sixth anniversary, series developer, CD Projekt RED announced this morning that to date the series has sold six million copies worldwide.

"Since the very beginning of our journey we have seen that the approach of inviting gamers into a dialogue with the developer is really important and can shake up the - sometimes self-destructive - business side of games," said CD Projekt RED head Adam Badowski. "We hope you'll stay with us for the years to come and that we will continue to make these changes together."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redmicrosoftpcthe-witcher-2xboxFri, 25 Oct 2013 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/12/the-witcher-rides-a-dark-horse-into-the-comic-book-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/12/the-witcher-rides-a-dark-horse-into-the-comic-book-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/10/12/the-witcher-rides-a-dark-horse-into-the-comic-book-world/#commentsThe Witcherseries developer CD Projekt RED have teamed with comic publisher Dark Horse to bewitch the American comic store with a comic series set in the Witcher universe. The series will be penned by Eisner Award winner Paul Tobin, with art by Joe Querio, and available starting March 19, 2014.

A press release described the story as one with mystery and horror: "Travelling near the edge of the Black Forest, in the land of the Angren, monster hunter Geralt meets a widowed man whose dead and murderous wife resides in an eerie mansion known as the House of Glass." It was unclear at what point in The Witcher series' timeline the comic will take place.

In an interview with Newsarama, Tobin teased "monsters and pretty women." On a DeviantArt page attributed to Querio, a journal post reads "Monsters and women... What better combination can there possibly be!?"

It sounds like the comic might, just maybe, feature monsters and women.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redcomicsdark-horsejoe-queriopaul-tobinthe-witcherSat, 12 Oct 2013 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/23/the-witcher-series-75-off-on-gog-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/23/the-witcher-series-75-off-on-gog-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/23/the-witcher-series-75-off-on-gog-steam/#comments
If price was the monster you feared in your quest to own CD Projekt RED's Witcher series, Steam has come to your rescue. Now through August 26, "enhanced editions" of both The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings are available for 75 percent off from Valve's digital storefront, priced at $2.49 and $4.99, respectively.

In case digital rights management emerges as another terror, CD Projekt's own digital platform - the DRM-free GOG.com - is also offering both RPGs at the same discounted prices on PC and Mac. The Enhanced Editions feature additional quests, the soundtracks and a few more bonuses from the developer.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-ProjektCD-Projekt-RedGOG.compcSteamthe-witcherthe-witcher-2Fri, 23 Aug 2013 23:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/cd-projekt-red-opens-new-polish-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/cd-projekt-red-opens-new-polish-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/cd-projekt-red-opens-new-polish-studio/#comments
The Witcher developer CD Projekt RED announced today it has opened a new studio in Cracow...Krakow?...the city with two K sounds prior to a -ra and -ow, Poland. Spelling confusions aside, the new studio will support the Warsaw studio's development of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077.

"We want to continue to make better and better RPGs and the new studio is another big step in that direction. Cracow, one of the cultural and scientific centers of Europe, is a really special place that will leave a significant mark on our games," said Adam Badowski, Head of CD Projekt RED.

Due sometime in 2014 for PS4, Xbox One and PC, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is the final entry in the current Witcher trilogy, though CD Projekt Red CEO Adam Kicinski has affirmed the "franchise will be continued." While multiplayer was initially a consideration, it was eventually abandoned along with the quick-time events seen in previous Witcher games.

"You will not see from us a lot of diverse stuff. We will not suddenly start making racing games, because I do not think that is where our strength is," Iwinski told Gamasutra. "At the end of the day, what really matters is the experience which you are having with the game when it's out. And this is the one unique moment which defines us. If it's an average experience, pretty much what we are doing every day doesn't make sense."

Iwinski also said respecting gamers has a direct correlation to sales, using CD Projekt Red's handling of The Witcher series as an example. CD Projekt Red produced the first game then The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, followed by The Witcher 2 and The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition. Rather than charge PC players for the Enhanced Edition content, CD Projekt offered the DLC up for free. Iwinski said this choice was made because "we think we could have done better" so "here it is."

Iwinski added that gamers "appreciate" that approach and "they tell their friends we are doing a good job and we respect them. And ultimately it will result in a sale." Some may wonder why CD Projekt Red would offer the content for free and not charge for it, to which Iwinski replies, "I think the value in the whole proposition is that we are honest, straightforward, and fair, and this pays back. So you can call it a business model, in a way."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redcyberpunk-2077marcin-iwinskipcplaystation-4ps4the-witcher-3xbox-oneThu, 18 Jul 2013 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/new-cd-projekt-red-studio-to-focus-on-smaller-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/new-cd-projekt-red-studio-to-focus-on-smaller-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/new-cd-projekt-red-studio-to-focus-on-smaller-games/#comments
The Witcher series developer CD Projekt Red is opening a new office in Kraków, Poland, according to a recent job posting at the company's website.

"This July we are opening an office in Krakow," Badowski said. "As we informed in our strategy outlook some time ago, aside from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, the studio aims to develop two smaller (approximately 20h of gameplay) premium quality titles. Consisting of 20 people, the core team in Kraków will be responsible for developing one of these games."

CD Projekt Red previously announced plans to expand its catalog with a variety of smaller-budget multiplatform games through 2015. Further details regarding these projects are not yet known.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redMon, 17 Jun 2013 18:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-witcher-3-drm-free-on-pc-gamer-friendly-solution-sought-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-witcher-3-drm-free-on-pc-gamer-friendly-solution-sought-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-witcher-3-drm-free-on-pc-gamer-friendly-solution-sought-o/#comments
The Witcher series of action role-playing games is reaching further than ever before, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launching simultaneously on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2014. The new consoles have been mired in discussion over DRM (digital rights management) recently, with Microsoft instituting connectivity requirements to play games, and PlayStation leaving publishers to decide how to control the sale and resale of their content. The Polish developer behind The Witcher, CD Projekt RED, now tries to find an ideal incarnation for its publicly asserted values, which are staunchly opposed to DRM of any kind.

"I can only talk about our intentions; we don't have any agreement finalized yet," CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński tells me, carefully choosing his words. "It's all quite early and we're finding out about it this week, at the conference. But our intention, obviously, is to choose the most gamer-friendly solution." In CD Projekt's perfect world, those solutions would be aligned with their PC- and Mac-based digital distribution platform, GOG.com, where games are 100 percent DRM-free. "Whatever the solutions will be for our partners, we choose something ideally as close to what we have on GOG as possible."

The Xbox One version of The Witcher 3 is bolstered by unique hardware-driven features. Kinect voice commands for allow quick weapon-switching and magic, and players can use SmartGlass to customize characters and manage their inventory during gameplay.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redkinectmicrosoftsmartglassthe-witcher-3xboxxbox-oneMon, 10 Jun 2013 13:41:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-witcher-2-official-mod-tools-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-witcher-2-official-mod-tools-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-witcher-2-official-mod-tools-released/#comments
CD Projekt RED has released REDkit, an official set of tools that allows amateur modders to make The Witcher 2 even witchier than ever before.

REDkit, originally launched as a private beta back in August, is a robust toolkit that lets users create new characters and quests within The Witcher 2. If you want to further tweak your mod's fantasy setting, REDkit also allows modders to edit terrain and plant virtual forests using the SpeedTree system. User-created content can be shared with fellow Witcher series enthusiasts at CD Projkt RED's website.

Would-be modders might want to check out REDkit's wiki before delving too deeply into the REDkit's world of character creation and tree-planting.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projekt-redmodspcredkitthe-witcher-2toolsMon, 13 May 2013 18:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/the-witcher-3-features-more-than-300-small-variations-in-its-end/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/the-witcher-3-features-more-than-300-small-variations-in-its-end/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/the-witcher-3-features-more-than-300-small-variations-in-its-end/#commentsThe Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt features 36 separate "world-states" at the end of the game, leading to three disparate, playable epilogues. The game tracks player choices to such a minute degree that each of these 36 "endings" contain hundreds of smaller changes unique to each player - CD Projekt Red stopped counting once it reached 300, Managing Director Adam Badowski tells Polygon.

"The game is quite complex," Badowski says. "We didn't mean to develop something special for the endings; it's a natural consequence of the storyline. The story has hundreds of different branches and sub-plots. We have to just sum all of those elements up in the epilogues. Some of those elements are taken from the very beginning and some from other moments of the storyline. All of them will connect in the epilogue."

We already know The Witcher 3 will clock in around 50 hours, may support previous save files and that CD Projekt has "something" cooking for multiplayer.